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Feds: Cyberpunks spied on Nasdaq directors

Nasdaq hackers' malware plot confirmed

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The same hackers who cracked into Nasdaq's computer systems last year apparently planted malware that allowed them to spy on publicly traded companies.

The stock exchange previously said neither its trading systems nor its customer data were exposed by an attack that focused on a web-based app called Directors Desk. However an investigation into the breach, involving the FBI and National Security Agency, has found evidence that the hackers extracted confidential data via Directors Desk, including confidential documents and the communications of board directors shared using the system.

Tom Kellermann, chief technology officer at security tools firm AirPatrol, told Reuters that hackers had spied on "scores" of directors who used directorsdesk.com before backdoor spyware was found and removed. The breach was detected in October. It's still unclear how long Nasdaq's system was compromised prior to this.

Nasdaq chief Robert Greifeld said the exchange spends nearly $1bn a year defending itself against constant hacking attacks. ®